Bell Works Hotel — Photo by Two Roads Hospitality
Bell Works Hotel — Photo by Two Roads Hospitality
Bell Works Hotel — Photo by Two Roads Hospitality

International boutique and lifestyle company Two Roads Hospitalitytoday announced the debut of a new Destination Hotels property opening in Bell Works, located in Holmdel, New Jersey's largest "Metroburb." The hospitality brand will debut an extensive conference center and reception ballroom in Fall 2018, with a hotel launch to follow.

Steeped in history, Bell Works is located in the former Bell Labs research building, a vast, 2-million-square-foot development originally designed in the 1960s by world-renowned modernist architect Eero Saarinen. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Bell Labs was the site of groundbreaking advancements in science and technology, revered for its role in spurring the development of some of the world's foremost inventions and research concepts, and a total of eight Nobel Prize winners worked within the building throughout four decades. This storied 20th-century hub of innovation has been reimagined into Bell Works by Somerset Development, which is transforming the Metroburb into a multi-faceted, sustainable New Urbanism community. The adaptive re-use development, estimated to cost around $200 million, includes retail components and other community services in the form of a town center, in addition to housing a Destination Hotel, marking the brand's return to the state of New Jersey.

"Bell Works is one of the most pioneering developments of today, reinvigorating the economy and elevating the landscape of one of New Jersey's fastest growing regions," said Jamie Sabatier, CEO of Two Roads Hospitality. "The new Destination property will be an amalgamation of both historic architectural elements and modern amenities, and is designed as a central gathering place for the entire community."

Breaking ground later this summer, the property will be housed on the sixth floor and will feature 186 oversized guest rooms, including entertaining suites, a signature restaurant, a 13,000-square-foot rooftop bar, luxury spa, and game room. Bell Works will also house extensive conference and event facilities with 40,000 square feet of meeting space, including an auditorium featuring a historically-preserved, original design with seating for 300 guests; an array of dedicated function spaces that can accommodate both large-scale social celebrations and intimate meetings; a kosher kitchen; and an atrium space available for public and private events. Additional design elements will include three restored atriums located throughout the hotel, one of which will house the striking hotel lobby.

"We envisioned Bell Works as a microcosm of innovation, where the community can connect and collaborate within an epicenter of business, dining, and culture," says Ralph Zucker, President of Somerset Development. "We are proud to have brought a former hallmark of advancement back to life, reinventing the historic Bell Labs as Bell Works."

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